Nottingham Forest miss out on play-off as Leicester win 3-2

NOTTINGHAM Forest missed out on a play-off place on a day of high drama at the City Ground.

Leicester City's 3-2 win, secured through an injury time goal from Anthony Knockaert, instead carried them into the top six, with Bolton having been held to a draw by Blackpool.

Billy Davies' side finished the campaign in 8th place, but only a point outside of the play-off places.

It had seemed for some time that it would be Forest who would end the day celebrating, after Simon Cox had given the Reds a third minute lead as the home side stormed out of the blocks.

But then Matty James and Andy King struck as Leicester responded with a lengthy spell of domination that might have seen them score more goals before half time.

An Elliott Ward header pulled Forest level five minutes into the second half. But, with both teams needing a win to break into the top six, both Forest and Leicester threw caution to the wind.

And it was Knockaert who kept his head to strike on the break and send Leicester's fans into rapturous celebrations at the City Ground.

Chris Cohen was given the chance to play in midfield for the first time since Billy Davies returned to Forest, as the manager made two changes for the massive local derby clash with Leicester City.

Cohen returned from a thigh injury, but was drafted into midfield, rather than resuming his recent position at left back.

The other change saw Darius Henderson restored up front, after he had completed his three match suspension. The two players to miss out were Billy Sharp and Radi Majewski, who both dropped to a hugely attack minded bench.

The Foxes were without defender Paul Konchesky, who failed a fitness test and was replaced at left back by Jeff Schlupp, with David Nugent restored to the front line.

Forest won a free kick within the first two minutes as Andy Reid was fouled on the edge of the box by Ritchie De Laet – and the midfielder almost carved out a goal as a result.

Reid bent the free kick around the defensive wall and dipping towards goal, but it found the roof of the net after skimming the top of the bar.

It took only three minutes for Forest to take the lead, however, as Cox kept his composure to slam the ball home from close range.

The striker had initially failed to connect after Michael Keane had failed to clear, but he made no mistake at the second attempt, lifting a shot high into the back of the net before celebrating deliriously with the fans in the corner of the pitch.

Forest's confidence had surged through the roof at this point but, while the conjured up a couple of promising attacks as the visitors backed off, it was Leicester who almost carved out an equaliser on the break, as Anthony Knockaert bent a shot narrowly wide of Karl Darlow's far post, from the edge of the box.

Lloyd Dyer then forced a corner for Leicester as they forced a spell of pressure of their own – and Matty James delivered a dangerous ball that flew right across the box.

Knockaert came even closer to clawing Leicester level, as he again pulled the trigger from the edge of the box – and saw his dipping effort brush the top of the bar.

While Darlow had to make an outstanding save to keep Forest ahead, with Nugent hitting a powerful, driven shot that was bound for the top corner until the keeper acrobatically pushed it away.

Dyer was then denied by a goal-saving challenge from Danny Collins, who slid across to prod the ball away as the winger's low shot fizzed towards the bottom corner.

But, from the resulting corner, Leicester did find the net. A quickly taken set-piece saw the ball fed to James, who struck his shot powerfully and, with the aid of a big deflection, it beat a blameless Darlow at his near post.

Some superb work from Adlene Guedioura gave Henri Lansbury the chance to have a crack from the edge of the box – and force an outstanding save from Kasper Schmeichel, jumping high to his right.

But this was an end-to-end affair and Nugent should then have put Leicester ahead but, after opening himself up to shoot from 12 yards, he sent his effort narrowly high and wide of the post.

Darlow then had to make another save as James shot from the edge of the box, with Guedioura half clearing the danger. But, when Dyer crossed immediately from the left, Nugent spurned another chance, failing to connect with what was a free header, at close range.

Forest had to make a change with Halford having picked up a knock, with Radi Majewski brought on. It meant Cohen returning to his recent position at left back and Harding slotting in on the right of defence.

Asides from the shot from Lansbury, it had been 15 minutes dominated almost entirely by the visitors – and Darlow had to make an outstanding save to prevent Dye giving Leicester the lead. The winger had cut in from the right and sent a low, fizzing effort across goal, which the keeper did brilliantly to push away.

Forest could not hold out until half time however, with Knockaert crossing from the left immediately after Nugent looked as though he might have carried the ball out of play. Forest froze for a moment, in costly fashion, with King rising, unmarked, at the far post, to put Leicester into a 43rd minute lead.

Lansbury had a header brilliantly saved in injury time, as Forest lay siege on the Leicester goal. Henderson also had an effort cleared off the line by Schmeichel, as the Foxes held out under a late barrage.

There was time for Lansbury to come close again, sending a shot dipping narrowly over as Forest finally found their confidence again.

The second half began with yet more drama. After De Laet had led a Leicester counter attack that was only ended by an important challenge from Guedioura, Forest themselves struck quickly on the break.

Majewski lured a clumsy challenge from former Forest man Morgan wide on the left, giving Forest a free kick in a dangerous position.

Reid, so often the master from set-pieces, delivered brilliantly into the centre, where Ward rose to head home a simple, but emphatic finish to make it 2-2 in the 50th minute.

Forest might have taken the lead for the second time in the game when Guedioura sent Harding angling into the box from the right, with Schmeichel getting down well to save the defender's half-volley.

Leicester made a change of their own in the 56th minute, with De Laet replaced by Liam Moore off the bench.

Lansbury forced another save from the Leicester keeper as he latched onto a clever ball from Majewski – and it looked as though Cox would sweep home the rebound, only for the striker to be denied by an offside flag.

When Nugent flashed in a cross from the right it seemed Leicester were bound to score, but Ward somehow managed to clear the ball round the post from a few yards out, when running back towards his own goal.

Leicester then had a half-hearted claim for a penalty, when Henderson challenged Morgan ruggedly with the ball bouncing around in the box.

Majewski was rather ambitious when he let fly with a shot from 25 yards, which dipped six feet wide of the post.

Leicester made another change, with Harry Kane coming on for Dyer, after the winger had failed to make the most of a good position on the left, crossing poorly when he might have done better.

Forest should have scored when Reid crossed brilliantly from the left, with Majewski glancing a header just the wrong side of the post.

It proved to be the Irishman's final contribution, with Forest then bringing on McGugan in his place. Forest then made their final throw of the dice, with Billy Sharp coming on for Guedioura, as Forest threw men forward.

Majewski's stray pass then cost Forest dear as it allowed Leicester to break, with knockaert scoring a 91st minute goal, on the break, after exchanging passes with Wood.

There were some ugly scenes following the goal, with Forest fans behind the Leicester dug out seeming to get involved in an altercation with the Foxes staff.

Still there was more drama, with Schmeichel making a further save to deny Majewski an equaliser, which would have denied Leicester the win they needed.

But the Foxes did hang on, for the three points and, with Bolton drawing with Blackpool, it meant it was the visitors who sneaked into the top six on the final day.

Sportingly, the Forest fans applauded the opposition players off the pitch. But the Forest fans were left to reflect on the prospect of another season in the Championship.

79 comments

WrexhamRed/CambsRed - I can deal with idiot foxes and sheep posting stupid comments because you can just ignore them without reading their nonsense, but reading the anti-team and anti-manager posts from both of you numbskulls after such a sensitive match made me feel sick! Maybe you should support your respective local teams because you certainly don't 'support' a Nottingham team! Ignorant haters!

Gentlmen, (& ladies) of the Red persuasion
I seriously have to thank you for all the hilarious 'clutching at straws' comments you continously make on this site.
You brighten my day no end. Please, please keep it up.

Some fans need to question there own sides ambitions or performance this season. (Derby) for I know if what I class as a "successful season" is the failure of another, in this case a local rival then I would be thinking my actual team have failed me.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA......LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL...............omg YOU CANT MAKE IT UP.......FLPPPRRRRRRBWAAHAHAHAHAHA......and Florist redbogs go NOOOOOOOOOOO where.....You live in dumps and play blow football in your biscuit tin..........prrrrrrrrrrrrrbwaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.............LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

there cant be many fans more gutted than me but i was happy with the way things worked out in the end,the sportsmanship we showed when we applauded leicester off was well deserved and lets be honest they deserved it on the day,they went for the throat and got their rewards on the day,it was a great advert all round on both sides only mildly spoiled by the idiotic antics of dyer winding up forest fans,rather unwisely i thought. Anyway well done forest you showed your quality and well done leicester who did what they had to do...all in all a satisfactory end to a season that started poorly and got worse until billy returned. Next year will be a good year for us....uuuuuuuuuu reddddddddsss

A disappointing moment yesterday has now been filled with a really strange feeling.
I don't think I have ever been so proud of being a Forest supporter in my adult life as I do this morning.
It was the walk around at the end of the match, the fans that turn up every week, the players that tried so hard, the manger that wants to succeed and our chairman's boyish desire and ambition for his and our club, I have never felt so united and connected with everyone at Nottingham Forest.
This is now the strength of Nottingham Forest, there seemed to be no longer and arrogance or a presumed right for top flight football.
The past is still admired and recognised, Brian Clough still a hero but no longer defines our club.
I don't know what has happened, if Al Fawaz bought Nottingham Forest to make money from English football it's not there anymore, he looks as genuinely smitten with Forest as the fans.
I can't remember a time when the club felt so positive and jubilant and we haven't won a thing, we have just grown.
As the club thanked me yesterday I thank them in return, I thought I had started to hate the modern game.
I can't wait for the new season.

A disappointing end to a game that was there for the taking but no sour grapes from me. fester deserved the points and we have still had an amazing season. To still be in the mix on the last day of the season after the setbacks we endured earlier in the season really was an incredible achievement in itself. Wes Morgan showed respect to the Forest fans in not gloating in front of us and we acknowledged him for it. Our fans applauded the fester celebrations while the fester fans disrespectfully booed our players on their lap of the ground. We should feel upbeat about and proud of our team who kept our hopes alive until the final day. We didn't quiet make it this time but still finished higher than direby again. Next season we will be outright champions!..........KEEP THE FAITH!

Not reading the daft sheep or bin dipper post's.
Just wanted to say enjoy your summer to all my fellow Forest supporters.
And see you all next year when we can hopefully go on and win promotion to the premiership.
The season my have ended on a downer but after last season i'm very positive for next season.
Well done the bin dippers, you won what was a great game.
But still hoping you get hammered in the playoffs.
Roll on next season when we get revenge on the sheep and bin dippers.
COME ON YOU REDSSSSSSSSSS

BLOUNTY3 Heard NLN on tele chuffed to bits he managed to finish 10th I suppose this is a bonus as for the past 4 seasons you have been avoiding relegation, when you take our position into account no owners at the begining of the season, no back four having to bring in 16 players to make a team 3 managers and we still finished 6 points in front of clueless Nigel, cant wait for next seasons 6 points off you sheep dippers, I see clueless has pulled out of the Burke deal as he has found out there is a fee involved, and he is not used to having to pay for players they are always free from Crewe, Burton and Northampton, never mind BLOUNTY keep selling the mobiles, and you never know you could finish in the top 10 again next year playing kids for a quid.